Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Addresses Code Of Conduct For Architects And Similar Professions

/in /by

The Missouri Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects (the Board) is the licensing authority for those practicing in these professions. The Board must ensure that licensees are qualified to practice these professions and follow the rules of professional conduct regulating them. Thus, the Board performs a vital function for the residents of Missouri be ensuring that people who practice architecture, professional engineering, land surveying, and professional landscape architecture possess the requisite skill and workmanship ethically. Missouri professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger is a skilled and experienced advocate for professional licensees in Missouri.

The Missouri state regulations governing architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, and professional landscape architects require the practitioners of each profession to be familiar with and understand the rules of conduct. The rules of professional conduct for architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, and professional landscape architects are substantially similar to the rules of professional conduct governing professions like healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses, with exceptions for rules that were explicitly passed for each occupation. The Board is the sole enforcement authority for the rules. The Board will file a complaint with the Missouri Administrative Hearings Commission if it has sufficient evidence that a member violated a rule of conduct.

The foundation for the standards of professional conduct is the protection of the public. In the case of these professions, the public must be protected from shoddy work when licensees are designing buildings, public works projects, designating boundaries of land, and preserving the integrity of the land upon which buildings are situated. Therefore, the priority of the Board and the rules that it enforces is to make certain that every licensee must act with “reasonable care and competence.” Additionally, each licensee must “apply the technical knowledge and skill which are ordinarily applied by architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, and professional landscape architects.” The rules or regulations do not endeavor to delineate what is meant by phrases such as “reasonable care” and “ordinarily applied.”

Licensees monitored by the Board have every right to earn a living and receive remuneration for their work. However, in further protecting the public, architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, and professional landscape architects must refuse to engage in any self-dealing. Self-dealing has a broader application than financial interests. Self-dealing could mean anything which involves a licensee compromising his or her professional standards for which a personal advantage may be gained. Furthermore, no licensee may take any monetary compensation or other compensation for referring another professional’s services. Licensees must not offer financial awards or other valuable compensation in an attempt to obtain employment.

Licensees have an obligation to use their best professional judgment. Consequently, anytime the licensee’s judgment is questioned the licensee must notify their employer immediately if the public welfare of safety is compromised. A necessary component a licensee using his or her best judgment involves practicing within their area of expertise and technical knowledge consistent with the training and education they have received.

Licensees must also protect the integrity of their profession. Therefore, they must not attempt to injure other licensees’ professional reputations. Additionally, licensees must maintain all confidences about which they learn while performing the duties for which they are contracted. Licensees must cooperate with Board investigations if they are being investigated or are questioned during an inquiry into another licensee’s conduct.

Call For Help Today If You Are Facing Professional Discipline

Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger aggressively defends professional licensees facing disciplinary action. Contact Attorney Sanger immediately if a licensing authority has commenced an investigation into your professional conduct. Call 785-979-4353 to schedule a consultation today to learn how experience coupled with aggressive defense can make the difference for you.

Kansas and Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Discusses Ethical Considerations Of Online Therapy

/in /by

With so much of our lives entombed in computers, there is little surprise that therapy sessions are now available online. The American Psychological Association (APA) calls the trend “telepsychology.” Telepsychology, according to the APA is the general rubric for any therapy session that is conducted either online, via a web service, or over a telecommunications portal. Both Missouri and Kansas now authorize their licensed therapists to conduct online therapy sessions.

Telepsychology has a tremendous upside, but therapists must be aware of the potential ethical pitfalls. If you are a therapist who has encountered disciplinary action because of online therapy or for any other reason, Kansas and Missouri professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger has over a decade of experience fighting to protect therapists from allegations of ethical violations.

Some therapists offer video sessions via an online portal like Skype. One company has advanced the idea and has created a computer platform dedicated to facilitating therapeutical appointments without the face to face interaction. The service boasts that use of its portal will reduce costs significantly for patients and be considerably more convenient.

The program works more like a dating service than a referral system. Prospective patients complete an assessment form. The form is analyzed and categorized by individual metrics based on how the patient answers questions on the evaluation form. Next, the patient is matched with a therapist if the patient enrolls in the service. The service plans begin at $32 per week. The patient is eligible to conduct online therapy sessions once the transaction is consummated.

Prospective patients should not be misled. The minimum service is $32 per week. This allows for unlimited text or email exchanges. The website marketing this service indicates that therapists will respond one to two times per day. If written responses are insufficient for the patient, then they can schedule an online chat through a portal like Skype. The service does not indicate what the costs are for a streaming conference session. The website does discuss that couples therapy costs $59 per week. Additionally, the website offers gift cards and corporate functions as well.

The therapeutic services available on the website are what one would expect a psychologist or therapist to provide. They want to attract people who are having relationship difficulties, job problems, feeling trapped, or unable to achieve their goals. The service does have emergency response resources available for individuals who are suicidal or homicidal. However, the website redirects people in crisis to call 911 or present to an emergency room.

One service it does boast is assistance with social media dependence. The service claims that people become depressed and anxious after looking at social media too long. Therefore, some people may require talk therapy to work out their problems caused by prolonged exposure to social media.

Many testimonials posted on the service’s website exclaim the virtue of texting their therapist instead of treating in a traditional setting. Some said that removing the discomfort of face-to-face interaction allowed them to express themselves more accurately. Some people claimed to like the convenience of texting their therapist whenever they wanted to do so.

Therapists who chose to treat their patients this way must be wary of maintaining confidences. Therapists must be aware of protecting privacy and securing privileged information that is stored electronically. Additionally, therapists must be careful not to mislead others while participating in this service.

For More Information

Many people, especially those folks who are busy or live in remote areas who simply do not have the time or the resources to attend regular appointments can benefit from online therapy. As time passes, more and more services will be hosted online. As a result, many ethical questions will need answers. You can turn to Kansas and Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger for representation if you are facing a disciplinary hearing or investigation. Call Attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a consultation and learn how her years of experience and aggressive defense of professional licensees will benefit you.

Kansas Professional Licensing Attorney Discusses Code of Ethics for Emergency Medical Technicians

/in /by

Emergency medical service (EMS) providers may be better known as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The title also includes paramedics. However one refers to them, EMTs are on the front lines helping save people every day by responding to car accidents, heart attacks, strokes, choking victims, people who stopped breathing, drug overdoses, gunshot victims, women who are giving birth, and countless other medical emergencies. They do their jobs well and in dire situations which force them to summons all of their strength and professionalism to make it through. Sometimes it works out for the best, and sometimes it does not, unfortunately.  When it does not work out well for a victim or the victim’s family, they might try to assess blame for the death or injury to a loved one by filing a complaint against the EMTs who responded to the situation. If that happens, Kansas and Missouri professional licensing attorney will zealously advocate on the EMTs’ behalf to protect his or her livelihood and professional reputation.

EMTs are licensed medical professionals in both Kansas and Missouri. In each state, EMS candidates must satisfy a rigorous training and educational course before they can provide emergency services.  Once the EMS practitioner receives his or her license to work as an EMT, they must renew their certifications and take continuing educational classes.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) has promulgated a code for its members to follow. The code may serve as the foundation upon which EMTs services are provided and the manner in which EMTs provide them. EMS practitioners are sworn to uphold a code; an ethic that reinforces that they must be selfless, professional, and compassionate performing the job they do. The code embodies everything an EMT must be.

The NAEMT code was designed by its authors to enrich the quality of care, and service EMTs provide. Therefore, to abide by the code, EMS practitioners must:

  • Do what they can to preserve life and eliminate pain and suffering. They must not do harm and must provide emergency medical services with equality for all who rely on them for care;
  • EMTs must maintain the dignity of human life. They must not evince any prejudice toward any person. Rather, EMTS must treat people with compassion and respect without regard to race, color, creed, or socio-economic status in life;
  • EMTs must always act for the well-being of the public good;
  • EMTS shall not disclose confidential information;
  • EMS practitioners may use social media but should not compromise their professional integrity or shame the profession in any way;
  • EMS providers must maintain and demonstrate technical competence at all times;
  • EMTS shall maintain the highest standards in the practice and continue to educate themselves on new techniques in addition to maintaining competence in current technologies;
  • Individuals should use their best judgment at all times;
  • EMS providers must cooperate with other healthcare providers, so the patient for which care is given receives the highest-quality healthcare; and
  • EMS practitioners must report unethical or incompetent practitioners or practices as well as refuse to participate in unethical practices.

Following this code allows the EMS providers to care for patients not only with care, compassion, and dignity, but to perform technical, life-saving measures when called upon to do so.

Attorney Danielle Sanger; Aggressive Defense of EMTS In Kansas and Missouri

Kansas Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger understands and appreciates the sacrifices EMTs make every day for the good of us all. If you are an EMTs facing professional discipline, contact Attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a consultation. Attorney Sanger will use her vast experience to defend you and your profession.

Kansas Professional Licensing Attorney Discusses the Kansas Board of Technical Professions

/in /by

Kansas Board of Technical Professions (the “Board”) is the regulatory body designated by the Kansas legislature to license and regulate architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, professional engineers, professional geologists, and professional landscape architects (collectively “licensees”). The Board’s mission is to ensure that licensees are adequately educated and have the technical ability to perform the necessary functions as licensees. Additionally, the Board has an obligation to make certain all licensees comply with Kansas’ rules of professional conduct as well as investigate complaints made against a licensees for an alleged violation of the rules of professional conduct. Kansas professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger aggressively and zealously represents professional licensees facing discipline.

Protection of the public welfare is the aim of the regulations with which the Board is charged to enforce. By following the regulations, licensees preserve the public trust in their given professions and maintain the integrity of their professions. Failure to follow the regulations may result in the Board taking adverse consequences against the licensee. Potential penalties range from a reprimand, either private or public, to suspension or revocation of professional license. The severity of punishment depends on several factors which include the nature of the infraction and the history of the prior history of punishment for the licensee, among other factors.

At the outset, the regulations mandate that each licensee uses their best professional judgment based upon their training and experience. A licensee must report any incident in which their judgment is overruled by another which compromises public safety and security. If such an event occurs, then the licensee must inform their employer or person in charge. Additionally, the licensee must notify the governmental authority who issued a building or other permit allowing the work.

Licensees have an obligation to practice within the scope of their expertise. Accordingly, the regulations prohibit licensees from practicing their profession in a manner that exceeds their education and practical experience. Also, the licensee may not place a seal on any document or drawing in which the technical prowess required to perform the task is not within technological capabilities of the licensee. If the Board determines that is the case, then the Board may require the licensee to take a proficiency test to demonstrate the requisite knowledge necessary to perform the task in question.

The licensee makes certain requirements when signing or endorsing a drawing or other document. Additionally, the licensee is bound by these requirements when giving testimony. They are:

  • Make truthful statements at all times,
  • Be objective, and
  • Include all relevant and pertinent information.

From time to time, a licensee may be called to give expert testimony or an opinion. The licensee’s expert opinion may only include and must be founded upon:

  • An adequate factual basis and understanding,
  • Have the required technical knowledge to render an opinion, and
  • Have a good-faith basis to give the proffered testimony.

The licensee has many responsibilities with regard to financial transactions and must be free from conflicts of interest. Licensees should be paid for their work. However, they cannot accept any remuneration under circumstances which call into question the integrity of the licensee or the profession. For example, a licensee cannot accept anything of value in exchange for a recommendation. Furthermore, a licensee may not accept payment from more than one party involved in a project unless the parties are aware of the conflict.

Kansas Professional Licensing Attorney Zealously Defends Professional Licensees

Kansas Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger is a zealous and aggressive defender of professional licensees. If you are a professional licensee facing a complaint or investigation, contact Attorney Sanger immediately. Call Attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a consultation and learn how Attorney Sanger’s experience, knowledge, and skill can make the difference for you.